Press release (pdf)
Newsday article on Level 1 winner, Michael Ferdinand (pdf)
At the Empire State Book Festival Gala, held on Friday, April 1, in Albany, NY, these students were recognized as the 2011 Letters About Literature winners and runners-up.
Winners
Level 1, Michael Ferdinand, West Babylon–Read his winning Letter.
Level 2, Alexandra Kung, Chappaqua–Read her winning Letter.
Level 3, Alexandra Saali, New York–Read her winning Letter.
Level 1 Runners-Up
Brooke Alleyne, Middle Island
Emily Luna, Farmington
Steven Octaviano, New City
Level 2 Runners-Up
Naomi Brandt, Vermontville
Havynn Root, Rochester
Tara Sweeney, East Norwich
Level 3 Runners-Up
Melissa DeLuca, Bronx
Amber Officer-Narvasa, Brooklyn
Rebecca Shaw, New York
Photos from the Gala
Ellen Rubin announces the winners, assisted by authors Marion Roach Smith and Elizabeth Levy.
Audience applauds the six winners in attendance. (left to right) presenters Marion Roach Smith and Elizabeth Levy, winners Amber Officer-Narvasa, Michael Ferdinand, Alexandra Kung, Naomi Brandt, Tara Sweeney, Alexandra Saali
First Place winners Alexandra Kung (Level 2), Michael Ferdinand (Level 1) and Alexandra Saali (Level 3)
Six of the twelve student winners attended the Gala: Alexandra Kung, Amber Officer-Narvasa, Alenandra Saali, Naomi Brandt, Michael Ferdinand. Tara Sweeney
Student winners, their families, and Empire State Center for the Book, NY Council for the Humanities, and NY Letters About Literature staff.
Amber Officer-Narvasa meets Hall of Fame inductee Paula Fox.
Michael Ferdinand gets his copy of Planisphere signed by the author, Hall of Fame inductee John Ashbery.
Tara Sweeney and her father enjoy the evening’s festivities.